Organization:

Work with four defenders (2, 3, 4, 5) and two holding midfielders (6 and 8) Step 1: Central defender passes to the outside back. Outside back dribbles the ball up 8 yards, makes an outside turn and passes the ball back to the central defender. The midfielder closest to this central defender goes high, the other midfielder checks in to receive the ball and opens to the other central defender, who plays the ball to the outside back on that side. Outside back dribbles up, makes an outside turn and passes it back. The midfielder closest to this central defender goes high, the other midfielder checks in to receive the ball and open to the other central defender. Midfielders constantly pivot high and low. The outside back on the ball side goes low, while the one on the non ball side goes high.

Variations:

Variation 1: The central defender passes the ball to the high midfielder, who bounces the ball back to the low midfielder. The low midfielder opens to the outside back, who dribbles up and makes an outside turn to pass the ball back to the central defender.

Other variations: Central defenders can open with a long pass to the outside back on the opposite side. Outside backs can bounce the ball back to the central defender instead of dribbling up and making an outside run.

Focus Points:

• Pass with the correct speed to the correct foot.

• Bounce with the correct speed to the correct foot.

• Receive with the correct foot.

• Open up.

• Make sure outside backs and midfielders make the correct runs according to the position of the ball.

• Timing of runs.

• Concentration, focus.